Kentucky earns 5th win, 37-12 over Eastern Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Morgan Newton threw his first two careertouchdown passes and three other Wildcats ran for scores asKentucky dominated Eastern Kentucky 37-12 Saturday, extending itsnonconference winning streak to a school-record 18 games. Newton, a true freshman starting his fourth game in place of theinjured Mike Hartline, threw his first scoring passes for theWildcats (5-4) just over a minute apart late in the third quarter. First, he connected with Maurice Grinter from 14 yards out.Then, Newton found Chris Matthews in the corner of the end zone onan 18-yard timing play. Moncell Allen, Alfonso Smith and Donald Russell rushed fortouchdowns for the Wildcats, who need to win one of their lastthree games to become the first Kentucky team to qualify for afourth straight bowl. T.J. Pryor completed just 9 of 28 passes for Eastern Kentucky(5-4) and was intercepted twice.

Kentucky is 5-4 overall. Eastern Kentucky is 5-4 for the season. Kentucky leads the series, 3-0. Next for Kentucky: the Wildcats play at Vanderbilt on Sat. Nov. 14 at 12:21 p.m. EST (11:21 a.m. CST in Nashville). The game will be televised on the SEC Network.

UK Team Notes

Kentucky set a school record by winning its 18th consecutive non-conference game. The previous record was 17 straight non-conference wins from 1954-60. The Wildcats totaled over 400 yards total offense for the second time this season with 444 yards. UK totaled 488 yards vs. Miami to open the year. UK’s 234 rushing yards marked the fourth time the Wildcats have gained more than 200 yards on the ground this season. With 210 yards through the air, UK passed for more than 200 yards for the second time this season. UK registered multiple interceptions for the third consecutive game. Kentucky went 2-of-3 on fourth down conversions in the game and have converted 14 of 19 (73.7 percent) to lead the SEC. UK has converted 27 of 34 opportunities (79.4 percent) in the red zone this year.

Game Summary

1st Quarter Summary Kentucky turns the ball over on downs at the EKU 10. (9:42) UK’s DeQuin Evans sacked T.J. Pryor for a loss of five yards at the EKU 4. It was Evans’ fourth sack of the season. UK’s Moncell Allen rushed for 1-yard touchdown. (4:31); UK 7, EKU 0 It was Allen’s second rushing TD of the season and third of his career.

2nd Quarter Summary UK’s John Conner converted a 4th and 1 at the EKU 49. (8:53) UK’s Lones Seiber made a 22-yard field goal. (6:06) UK 10, EKU 0 EKU’s T.J. Pryor completes a 42-yard pass to Orlandus Harris at the UK 10 EKU’s Marcus Williams rushes for a 9-yard TD on a fake FG (2:44); PAT attempt failed. UK 10, EKU 6 UK’s Alfonzo Smith rushed for 15 yards to the EKU 1 (1:25) UK’s Alfonzo Smith rushed for a 1-yard touchdown (0:41); UK 17, EKU 6 It was Smith’s second rushing TD of the season and eighth of his career. EKU’s T.J. Pryor rushes for 26 yards to the EKU 44. UK’s Cartier Rice intercepted EKU’s T.J. Pryor in the end zone on the final play of the half.

3rd Quarter Summary UK’s Lones Seiber missed a 32-yard field goal. (7:09) UK’s Morgan Newton completes a 14-yard TD pass to Maurice Grinter. (2:28); It was Newton’s first career TD pass. It was Grinter’s first catch of the season and fourth TD reception of his career. UK 24, EKU 6 UK’s Sam Maxwell intercepted EKU’s T.J. Pryor at the EKU 24 and returned it six yards. On the first play after Maxwell’s interception, UK’s Morgan Newton completes an 18-yd TD pass to Chris Matthews. It was the second receiving touchdown for Matthews this season. (1:24); PAT attempt failed. UK 30, EKU 6

John Conner tied the Kentucky career record for games played with 50. Tim Masthay also played in 50 games from 2005-08. Moncell Allen had a career-high 14 carries for 62 yards, including a touchdown. La’Rod King totaled career highs in both catches (4) and receiving yards (41). Gene McCaskill hauled in a career-high four receptions for 33 yards. Eric Adeyemi caught a career-high three receptions, matching his career-high total of 31 yards. Chris Matthews hauled in a career-high seven receptions for 56 yards, including a touchdown. Alfonso Smith gained 60 yards on 12 carries and scored a touchdown. Smith now claims 939 career rushing yards and needs 61 yards to attain 1,000 in his career. Trevard Lindley posted one pass breakup to move into a tie for seventh place with Florida’s Larry Kennedy (1991-94) on the SEC career list with 39 career PBUs. Morgan Newton set new career highs with 20 completions on 29 attempts for 187 yards and two passing touchdowns. Donald Russell gained a career-high 92 yards, including a 79-yard scoring dash. Taiedo Smith led the defense with a career-high six tackles. DeQuin Evans recorded three tackles-for-loss in a game for the second time this season. Sam Maxwell recorded his fourth interception of the season and fifth career interception. Cartier Rice recorded his first career interception at the end of the first half. Freshman kickoff man Craig McIntosh had a career-high three touchbacks today. Randall Cobb did not play due to a sprained left thumb. He was cleared to play by the medical staff but the coaches decided to hold him out.

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